Alan Farrell (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline his Department's forecast in relation to the recruitment of teachers between now and 2016 when an extra 80,000 pupils will be in the system; when this recruitment will commence; if these posts will be of a permanent stature irrespective of the recruitment embargo; the effect this will have on public service reduction in the medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51214/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I agree with the Deputy about the challenges faced with rapidly increasing enrolments in our schools. This is why certain budgetary measures regarding teacher allocations have been introduced and further measures will be required in future years in order to manage teacher payroll costs. Teaching resources are allocated to schools on a school year basis. Unlike most other areas of the public service, teaching vacancies are being filled in accordance with published Department criteria.

The number of teaching posts that we can afford to fund in schools in the coming years is a matter that I will have to consider with my colleagues in Cabinet in the context of budgetary requirements and meeting our obligations under the EU/IMF Programme.